Definition of Cv from Crane TP-410 (p.

2-10):

Rate of flow of water, in gpm, at 60F, at a pressure drop of 1psi across the valve

i.e.

Rate of flow of water, in gpm, at 60F, at a pressure drop of 1 psi for a valve with
effective area, “A”, and resistance, “K”

Expression for Cv from Crane TP-410 (p. 3-4):

ρ 29.9d 2 29.9d 2
Cv = Q = =
∆P (62.4 ) f L K
D

Where:

Q – flow rate (gpm)

∆P – pressure drop (psi)
ρ – fluid density (lb/ft3)
d – effective diameter (in2)
K – resistance coefficient (non-dimensional)

The following are not specified in TP-410, and these omissions make the equation
confusing:

The units of the 62.4 presented

The units of the 29.9 presented

Rearranging:

∆P (62.4 )
Q = Cv
ρ
29.9d 2 ∆P(62.4 )
Q=
K ρ

I determined that the units of 62.4 are lb/ft3. A similar equation for Cv in the Fischer
Control Valve Handbook (p. 114) uses the specific gravity in the square root term. Since
62.4 is the density of water, ρ/62.4 is the specific gravity.

The 29.9 is less simple. It was more intuitive for me to think of d2 as an effective area
rather than an effective diameter squared. I therefore translated the equation to:
 π
29.9d 2 = 38.08 d 2 = 38.08 A
4

Where A is the area. The new equation becomes:

38.08 A ∆P (62.4 )
Q=
K ρ

Based on the definition of Cv, this means that for water at 60F with a valve that has an
effective area A = 1in2, a resistance K = 1, and ∆P = 1psi, the flow is equal to 38.08gpm
(the specific gravity of water at 60F = 1).

In terms of units, then, the equation looks like:

 gpm  2
gpm =  2  in
 in psi 
( ) psi
 

So the equation becomes:

 gpm 
38.08 2  A ∆P 62.4 lb  
 in psi    ft 3  
    
Q=
K ρ

For the sake of consistency with the established equations, A can be put back in terms of
d2 :

 gpm  π 2   lb  
38.08 2  d ∆P 62.4 3  
 in psi  4
    ft  
Q=
K ρ
 gpm  2   lb  
29.9 2 d ∆P 62.4 3  
 in psi 
    ft  
Q=
K ρ

Now this equation can be meaningfully converted to the metric system. The constant
becomes:
  gpm  6.309 × 10 m s   m3 
−5 3
 1.550 × 10 3 in 2  1.204 × 10 − 2 psi  −2  
29.9 2 
  = 3.520 × 10  2 s
 in psi  gpm  m2  Pa  
 m Pa 
     

And the equation therefore becomes:

 m3 
 
3.520 × 10 − 2  2 s 

( )
 m Pa 
3   ∆P(Pa )
Q m =
s K Gf

Where Gf is the specific gravity of the fluid.

Just to check my work, I will try a random mix of values for the 2 equations:

For water at 60F, ∆P = 13.2psi, K = 2.27, and d = 1.75in:

13.2psi = 9.101x104Pa
1.75in = 4.445x10-2m

Q=
(29.9)(1.75)2 13.2 = 220.81gpm
2.27

Q=
(3.520 ×10 )(4.445 ×10 )
−2 −2 2
9.101×10 4 = 1.393 ×10 − 2
m3
2.27 s
m3
220.81gpm = 1.393 × 10 − 2
s

It appears that the translation to metric units worked correctly.